A stupid, needless and preventable tragedy.
Soil compaction https://youtu.be/UGlPbphlpBg

By AvvE

16 thoughts on “London crane collapse explained”
  1. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Dylan Peterson says:

    I appreciate you mentioning Grady, His field of engineering is tragically under appreciated.
    His channel is atleast 9.2/10.

  2. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars fast AiR says:

    what was the other crane doing, the mobile one? It was probably either assembling the tower crane or disassembling it.

  3. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Steve Williams says:

    I was a tower crane operater for Huden stuart wolff for years and the failure of this crane was due to the ground contractor not doing his job correctly also the main contractor should be held responsible for not making sure that this job was done to the correct specifications
    . Both the ground works contractor and the agent on site should have gone to prison for manslaughter .

  4. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Jonny Dickson says:

    Construction 101. Get consultant reports, file them away and ignore 99% of their content.

  5. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Roscoe.P ColdChain says:

    My sisters boyfriend got killed on the Canary Wharf collapse in London in the late 80s early 90s, not to sure of the year bless him..3 crew got killed that day from the firm Hewden Stewart..He was only 20 years old at the time Rip..The only saving grace that day is that it happened early one Sunday morning

  6. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars poot111111 says:

    So a pothole?

  7. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Zalu Skowsky says:

    i m here from a german video.
    Craneplaces have to be compacted. Nuff Said.

  8. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Hyena laughing matter says:

    Ronny would be mad!

  9. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars stu nimbus says:

    This area was heavily bombed by the Germans in WW2. This left the ground all weird – some natural, some infill, some fractured. Take 1 step, and its different. Probably not suitable for a balanced crane.

  10. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars NoMore BSplease says:

    A meteor is a BAD example of something we see coming. That's literally the one thing that hits us the most with no warning whatsoever.

  11. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars RootedHat says:

    "Erection load"

    Well played my friend

  12. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Douglas Moore says:

    Don’t for get aircraft fall out of the sky..lol good video! And explanation on the events!

  13. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars 603MX says:

    Before I climb in or onto anything, I take a look at how it's secured. I trained to climb wind turbines, first lesson, somebody else not checking will kill you! Last winter I rented an aerial lift to take down some trees, the neighbors thought I was crazy, I dropped 8x 80ft pines in a day for $250 and some 2 smoke, they paid $8k and one had a totem pole in the yard for a week because the 'arborist' didn't know how to take it down after he trimmed 2 thirds of it and made it unstable. Working at height means plan ahead, plan everyday, and don't deviate from the plan.

  14. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Ray Andresen says:

    So AVE, well done sir.

  15. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars mack cummy says:

    Just happened in Kelowna, BC Canada

  16. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Rich Allen says:

    Absolutely correct on the compaction of the base. Company I worked for just erected the same type of tower crane last year, same gravel type base at 18" depth along a 3 lane one way road with 2 of the lanes during the day used for parking on either side.of the road. Crane was 27 stories tall or 333 ft. Busy downtown city area. Concrete jersey barriers were installed to enclose the gravel base and to keep traffic from crashing into the crane base. The gravel base for the crane took the pedestrian sidewalk and one whole lane of the road. Instead of concrete pads our crane base sat on 18" web by 18" flange by 1 thick "I" beams sitting double row forming a 36" wide solid stee square support base for the base of the actual crane to sit on. The base sat directly on the gravel pad. I was a carpenter helping the iron workers level in the crane base with 24" by 1/16" and 1/8" shims used to zero in the base perfectly level. We started on the high side of the base and started working our way around the base until it was perfectly level. The iron workers added om the crane base to the leveled support steel and then 3 sections of tower for the crane. I was still on site and for the pure heck of it….I turned my laser back on and checked all 4 corners of the base of the crane….in a 24ft span the base was 5/8 inches out of level. I stopped the iron workers right then and there and told them something had moved or settled. Everyone stopped and started looking at all the variables. We walked out in the street and noticed the concrete jersey barriers were leaning being pushed over by the gravel pad shifting from not being compacted correctly. Exactly as you stated the excavation company hired to install the gravel base compacted the gravel in (2) approximately 9" lifts instead of compacting it in 2" lifts. Compaction failed so the crane base failed. Everything came back apart to square one and the gravel base reinstalled correctly this time with no problems.Crane was in service for almost 7 months with no further incidents.

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